Joints between a cap and a housing of a bipartite envelope



Oct. 29, 1968 J. KONIJNENBERG ETAL 3,407,958

JOINTS BETWEEN'A CAP AND A HOUSING OF A BIPARTITE ENVELOPE Flled June 29, 1966 INVENTORS JOHAN KONIJNENBERG B-YBERNARDZ M. SPRADO AGEN United States Patent Of 3,407,958 JOINTS BETWEEN A CAP AND A HOUSING OF A BIPARTITE ENVELOPE Johan Konijnenberg and Bernard Martinus Sprado, Drachten, Netherlands, assiguors to North Ameri-' can Philips Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 29, 1966, Ser. No. 561,597 Claims priority, application Netherlands, July 14, 1965, 6509065 Claims. (Cl. 220-4) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A casing for enclosing an apparatus such as an electric shaver, the casing comprising housing and cap members which are releasably secured together along their engaging edges by a resilient lug extending from an edge of the cap member to a corresponding aperture in the housing member and a rigid pin extending from an opposite edge of the cap to -a corresponding aperture in the housing, these members being engaged and disengaged by relative transverse movement between them which deflects the resilient lug and aligns the pin in its aperture.

The invention relates to a bipartite envelope or casing comprising a cap and a housing of an electrical domestic apparatus, preferably of a dry-shaving apparatus, the component parts of this apparatus, which fit in the housing, being secured to the cap, while the cap and the housing are joined to each other in a detachable manner.

A first disadvantage of this kind of joints resides in the fact that both in the case of screwed joints and in the.

case of bayonet joints the housing must be rotatable with respect to the cap, which is hardly possible if the components secured to the cap fit accurately or closely in the housing. a

A joint between a cap and a housing by means of screws is also known. Such a joint involves a comparatively high cost of assembly and moreover gives rise to great difliculties in mechanization of the production. The access to component parts for repairs or checking purposes is also greatly impeded by this joint by means of screws.

The invention has for its object to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages to the greatest possible extent and to provide an apparatus offering greater ease in handling and reduced cost of production. The invention is characterized in that the two parts of the envelope ,or casing can be directly locked with respect to each other with a clamping tit, and the separation edges of the parts or members define a plane of intersection in the mounted or assembled state of the envelope, while these parts are completely fixed with respect to one another.

The fact that the parts can be directly locked with a clamping fit while the separation edges lie in one plane and the parts are completely fixed with respect to one another provides the additional advantage of a complete enclosure, which is of special importance for a dry-shaving apparatus in order to prevent the penetration of hair cuttings into the housing.

An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the inner side of the upper portion of the cap member is provided with releasable locking means comprising at least one lug extending substantially at right angles towards the plane passing through the separation edge and projecting beyond this plane, which lug or lugs are adapted to move resiliently about their fastening points and are provided at their ends with catches which extend transversely towards the adjacent wall and, in the mounted state of the envelope, fit into apertures of a wall of the housing. The opposite wall of the housing is provided with ice a slot extending substantially at right angles to the separation edge and terminating at said edge, into which slot there fits in the mounted state of the envelope a rigid pin projecting from the cap. In the non-mounted state of the envelope the distance from the centre line of the slot to the plane passing through the inner apertures in the opposite wall is smaller than the distance from the centre line of the rigid pin to the junction between the lugs and the catches.

.The advantage of ease in handling is clearly apparent.

When the parts of the envelope are joined, the component parts secured to the cap are slipped substantially perpendicularly to the plane of intersection, and into the space enclosed by the housing until the lugs butt against the upper edge of the housing. Subsequently, the cap provided with the components is moved slightly back generally parallel to the plane of intersection, or the lugs are slightly bent back by hand so that the lugs get into the space enclosed by the housing. Upon further insertion of the components into the housing, the catches of the lugs slip into the apertures of the wall, whereupon the cap is moved slightly forwards until the pin can be pushed into the slot so that the clamping connection is established. For demounting or disassembling the casing, the cap is pushed slightly forwards, i.e., against the spring pressure of the lugs, whereupon the pin can be lifted out of the slot and the cap can be readily removed from the housing. The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, further favourable details manifesting themselves in the description.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the bipartite envelope, with the cap and housing fully engaged.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the envelope in which the cap provided with the components, is partially disengaged from the housing.

FIG. 4 shows on an enlarged scale a detail of FIG. 3.

The invention relates to a bipartite envelope 1 comprising a cap 2 and a housing 7, component parts 12 which fit in the housing being fastened to the cap 2 by means of a screw or screws 13. The cap and the housing have separation or junction edges 3 and 3A respectively of their engaging surfaces, and these edges when engaged define between them a plane of intersection. The inner side of the upper portion of the cap 2 is provided with at least one lug 4 which extends substantially at right angles to the intersection plane, passing through the separation edge 3 and projects beyond said intersection plane, which lug is adapted to move resilently about its fastening point. The free end of each lug 4 is provided with a transverse catch 5 which extends towards the adjacent wall and, in the mounted state of the envelope fits an aperture 6 in a wall 7A of the housing 7, the upper surface of the catch pressing against the upper wall of the aperture 6 of the housing. In the opposite wall of the housing 7 provision is made of a slot 8 which extends substantially at right angles to the separation edge and terminates at the separation edge. The cap 2 is provided with a protruding rigid pin 9 which in the mounted state of the envelope fits into the slot 8. In the non-mounted state of the envelope, the distance from the centre line of the slot 8 to the plane passing through the inner apertures in the opposite wall is smaller than the distance from the centre line of the rigid pin 9 to the junction between the lugs 4 and the catches 5, as is shown clearly in FIG. 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the envelope is made of an elastic synthetic material, while the cap 2 and the lugs 4 with the catches 5 are manufactured as a whole by injection moulding. Thus, the cost of production is considerably reduced. Such a reduction of the cost of production is of particular importance in case of mass production of articles. .A further embodiment of the v 3. invention is characterized inthat the housing7 is box shaped, the separation or intersection plane between the parts extends substantially parallel to the lower surface of the housing 7, while the aperture 6.'and theslot 8 are located in two opposite narrow side walls of the housing 7. .In a chargeable electrical apparatus having an envelope 1 in accordance with the invention, one ofthe side walls of thehousing 7 is provided with an aperture ll which accommodates the operating button'of a switch=-secured tothecap2.-

What is claimed is:

1. A bipartite, detachable casing for an electric domestic apparatus comprising a housing member and a 'cap member" to which, component parts of the apparatus are secured, these members being releasabl'y joina-ble with a clamping fit, the housing and cap having separation'edges located in one flat plane in the mounted'state of said casing and the cap being provided with at least one lug extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the separation edge between said cap and housing and projecting beyond said plane, said lug having at least one resilient portion and having a catch on the free end thereof, said housing being provided with an'aperture on one side thereof and a slot on another side thereof, said cap also being provided with a rigid pin projecting therefrom, said catch being detacha'bly latched in the aperture of said housing and said rigid pin fitted in the slot in the mounted state of said casing, and

. in the non-mounted state of said casing the distance between the center line of said slot to a plane passing through said aperture and adjacent casing wall is smaller than the distance between the center line of said rigid pin and the junction between said lug and said catch.

2. A casing for an apparatus comprising: (a) a housing member including a first junction surface on one side thereof, (b) a cap member having a second junction surface on one side thereof, the housing and cap being joinable when their respective junction surfaces are engaged, and (c) means for releasably locking said members together comprising a deflectable and resilient first locking element extending from one of said junction surfaces and engageable to a first aperture in the other surface and a second locking element extending from one of said junction surfaces and engageable to a second aperture in the other surface, the two elements, when the members are joined, being spaced from'each other with the first of said elements beingdefiected'thereby' providing a spring force to maintain the engagement bf the members, and this first element being further defiectable to permit disengagement of the members. I 9

3. A casing as defined in claim'2 wherein the. first element is a lug'witha catch part extending transversely from. the free end thereof, the first aperture having an engaging portion corresponding to said catch, and the second element is. a-substantially rigid pin, the second aperture being a slot with dimensions corresponding to the pin.

4. A casing as defined in claim' 2 wherein the spring force of the first locking element provides a clamping fit when the two members are joined.

5. A casing as defined in claim 2 wherein the cap is displaced with respect to thehousingto deflect the first locking element for engagement and disengagement of the members. i

' 6. A casing as defined in claim 2 wherein the housing has side walls defining therebetween a container, and the cap has secured to'on'e side thereof component parts of the apparatus which extend substantially into the container when the member's are joined.

7. A" casing as defined in claim 2 wherein the cap and first locking element comprise an integrally formed injection molding.

8.- A casing as defined in claim 2 wherein the casing is formed of an elastic'synthetic material.

9. A casing as defined in claim 3 wherein the housing has side walls with the exposed edges thereof defining said first junction surface, and the cap and housing, when joined, define between their respective junction surfaces a fiat plane of intersection, the lug and pin being oriented substantially normal'to this plane and the corresponding apertures being located in two of said side walls.

10. A casing as defined in claim 9 wherein the cap is displaced substantially parallel to said plane of intersection to deflect the first locking element for engagement and disengagement of the members.

. References Cited I 7 UNITED STATES: PATENTS 2,792,143 5 1957 Seeger 220-4 3,239,093 3/1966 Gath 220-4 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, 0.6. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,407,958 October 29, 1968 Johan Konijnenberg et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 65, after "FIG. 3." insert The joint between the cap and the housing is doubly secured in that the cap and the housing are additionally joined by at least one screw 10.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of January 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

